The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-28

in town organized for the purpose O
lyncbing LOUIS hopeful son, but she in
terceded so eloquently in his behal
that he was permitted TO escape.
Precautions Against Contagious and In
feotious Diseases,
| SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, SMALLPOX
vARIoLoID, TYPHOID FEVER, TYPHUs
FEVER, MEASLES, ouoLERA,pYs-
EMERY, ERYsPELAs, ,MUMPs,
AND wIIooPiNG-CoUau.
Some of these diseases are communi
Gated directly from person to person
such are scarlet fever, small pox ant
measles. Others contaminate fluid,
and solids which are eaten by human
beings and thus enter the system; sucl
are typh old fever, cholera and dysen
terry, while Others still pass from person
to person through the air, $50 far al
our present knowledge extends,) sucf
as typhus fever, smallpox, whooping
cough and influenza.
1t is fully believed by sanitariaus
that most infectious and contagiou.
diseases could be stamped OUT com
pletely, could mankind be induced tc
live up to the light which we nov
possess concerning their nature. The
'plague," 'the black DEATH" sthe
sweating sickness" and "cholera," in
former years ravaged continents, carry
ing to the grave from one. fourth tc
three -fourths of all the inhabitants
Their ravages have been stayed some
of them are unknown in civilized coun.
tries. May the diseases here named
be unknown to future generations.
now CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ARE SPREAD.
1t is believed that each of these dis
eases is the result of a special poison
(contagium) working in the body.
These enter the system in different
ways, and exert their main force on
different parts of the body.
Scarlet fever, smallpox and measle
and all eruptive diseases of the skin
are probably propagated by a poison
discharged in the dead skin, as well,
also, as by means of all discharges
from che bowels, bladder, nose, mouth,
eyes and ears. The discharges from
the skin (dry dust, scales, scabs, &C. J
as well as from the nose aud mouth,
are believed to be especially malig.
nant.
In diptheria, the discharges from the
mouth, nose and throat, as we'll as
from the bowels and bladder, are be-
lieved 10 contain the poison, especially
those from nose, mouth and throat
The same is true of the whooplug-
cough. In the case of consumption the
matter coughed from the lungs prob
ably is means of propagating that
disease. Typhoid fever, cholera and
dysentery have their special poisons in
the discharges from the patients bowels
which are disseminated in drinking
water. The same is probably true OF
yellow fever. Puerperal fever may be
conveyed from patient to patient on
the persons of physicians and nurses.
Parasitic diseases are obtained from
foods and drinks, and by actual con-
tact of healthy person with one dis
eased. Typhus fever seems to be a
disease caused by over-crowding, and
by foul gases from sewers and drains.
The time intervening between ex-
posure to the special poison and the
appearance of the first symptoms of
these diseases varies greatly. 1t may
be from only few hours, as in the
case of cholera and yellow fever, to
three or fonr weeks or even longer as
in typhoid fever.
As general rule, one attack gives
immunity from any second attack.
Scarlet fever, diphtheria; measles, and
whooping-cough prevail most among
children, but may attack all ages. The
other diseases named attack persons of
all ages. AS rule, the cleanly, tenn
perate, wellfed, and well housed suffer
less from these diseases than do the ill
fed, Incorporate, ill-clothed, over-work-
ed, and ill-housed,' but this is not al.
ways so. The Incorporate certainly
suffer more than other. Those who
have been successfully vaccinated
within seven years do positively e.
cape smallpox. Persons who are in a
rundown" and exhausted state of
body, are more liable than others to
have the germs of disease take root in
their bodies than are Others. Typhoid
fever especially attacks those in vigor
GUS life. Diphtheria generally passes
nursing babies.
HOW TO AVOID THESE DISEASES.
See to it that your family and your
self are successfully vacoinated. Tn
less your services are needed, stay
away from all houses in which these
diseases. are present. Don't attend
funerals from any of these diseases.
Keep children away from all houses in
which these diseases prevail. If any
of these diseases, to which children are
subject, are epidemic in a town, keep
ypur children from day and Sabbath
schools, from churches, and all assem-
blies. Be sure that the water you
drink is pure well water is alwuys to
be suspected. In travelling, it is safest
to drink only boiled water, such as one
gets in tea and coffee When buying
or renting house, always ask if it has
been free Cor the past two years, from
all these contagious diseases, and de-
mand written guarantee. Educate
the people of your neighborhood as to
the nature of these diseases, and what
they should do when they occur. Aid
in establishing local board of health,
and see that your community has laws
in reference to cleanliness, private
funerals, the isolation of those sick of
contagious diseases, and the closing of
schools and churches against those liv-
ing in houses in which any contagious
disease prevails. The country priyy
and the city cess pool should be aboi-
ished everywhere absolutely. The
most scrupulous cleanliness must be
enforced everywhere. When conta-
gious diseases prevail, do not send
your clothing to the public laundries.
There should be notice on every
house in which there is a contagious
disease, so that the public may be warn
ed to remain away.